Education is welcomed

Sir, – The Rev David Robertson, commenting on the Humanist Society of Scotland’s call for Religious Observance to be renamed to Time for Reflection, said: “The Humanist Society is dedicated to the abolition of religion from society.”

That is not true. The Humanist Society of Scotland is asking for schools to be a place of learning and education and that school gatherings should be inclusive and not favour one particular religion over another.

The change in the name would help achieve this. What parents choose to teach their children at home about religion is entirely up to them. The Humanist Society of Scotland has no wish to change that.

Religious observance is, by its very nature, confessional, exclusive and pertains to a particular belief system. Its place is in a church, mosque, temple or synagogue and not in schools.

What the Humanist Society of Scotland does welcome is religious education where children learn about different faiths and beliefs they will almost certainly encounter in the world. AndrewWilson. Media Officer, Humanist Society Scotland, Dundee andTayside Group. war of words. While the language used by the Strathallan pupils is regrettable, they are immature young persons while Mr Wishart is a mature 50-something man who has been a member of parliament for 13 years.

He is the one who really should know better. Robert Cairns. Eastergate Cottage, Harrietfield, Perthshire.